South Africa is leading the discourse on art and design on the African continent. Find out where the hottest design spots are, and which are the artists to invest in.
TEXT: Y-JEAN MUN-DELSALLE
PLACES TO VISIT: NORVAL FOUNDATION
Boasting one of the largest private collections of South African art, the Cape Town institution founded by property investor Louis Norval is dedicated to the research and exhibition of 20th- and 21st-century visual art from South Africa and beyond.
PLACES TO VISIT: NORVAL FOUNDATION
Set against a mountain and vineyard landscape, it comprises a sculpture garden, outdoor amphitheatre, gallery spaces and library, showcasing pieces by the likes of Joni Brenner, Angus Taylor, Brett Murray and Yinka Shonibare.
PLACES TO VISIT: ELLERMAN HOUSE
Stay in Cape Town’s most exclusive boutique hotel situated on the cliffside overlooking the ocean, with terraced gardens, a large pool and one of the most important repositories of South African art that rivals that of the country’s best art museums. It features works by artists such as Irma Stern, Thomas Bowler and William Kentridge, and can be explored with art guide Talita Swarts.
PLACES TO VISIT: NEIGHBOURGOODS MARKET
The catalyst for the wave of creative development that transformed Woodstock, it is the spot to get a taste of the Cape, uniting local farmers, artisanal producers, fine food purveyors, local designers and crafters.
SOUTH AFRICAN ARTISTS TO COLLECT: SUE WILLIAMSON
Working in print, installation, photography and video, she is part of the pioneering generation of South African artists addressing social change during apartheid. She is recognised for her series of portraits of women involved in the country’s political struggle, and her socially based work reveals hidden histories and engages with themes of memory and identity formation.
SOUTH AFRICAN ARTISTS TO COLLECT: WIM BOTHA
Drawing its roots from the mastery of traditional techniques of sculpture, drawing and painting, the Pretoria-born artist’s work is sometimes delicate and sensitive, sometimes raw and mutilated, as he explores materials, forms and lines through varied mediums including treated wood, books, oil paint, steel, Indian ink, bronze, paper, marble, polystyrene and acrylic enamel paint.
Related: Cool furniture and sculptures made from felled trees
SOUTH AFRICAN ARTISTS TO COLLECT: HAROON GUNN-SALIE
The FNB Art Prize 2018 winner from Cape Town has formed a collaborative art practice that transforms community oral histories into artistic interventions and experiential installations, tackling issues such as neo-colonialism, radicalism and violence in wide-ranging media.
TOP DESIGN SPOTS: CASAMENTO
The place for original upholstered furniture that has been handcrafted with traditional needlework and embellishments. Each piece has a story to tell as designer Starry Eve Collett sources rare textiles and uses sustainable fibres as much as possible.
TOP DESIGN SPOTS: WOLF AND MAIDEN CREATIVE STUDIO
Manufacturer of exquisite, high-end leather goods. Its luggage, bags, wallets and belts blend the elegance of timeless leather craft with contemporary design.
Photo: Instagram/wolfandmaiden
TOP DESIGN SPOTS: VOGEL
The showroom of designer John Vogel, who makes distinctly South African furniture. His collectible work is available through Southern Guild, but he also has a production line of seating and tables that mixes pared-down, nature-inspired forms with woven African textures.
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- South Africa